ARTSPACE MACKAY

Artspace Mackay is a purpose-built regional art gallery owned and operated by Mackay Regional Council. The contemporary facility includes three impressive exhibition spaces, a reading pod, workshop space, gallery shop and cafe. Artspace Mackay provides residents and visitors to Mackay with the opportunity to see art exhibitions by significant international, Australian and local artists as well as touring exhibitions presented by Australia’s largest art galleries and museums.

The gallery offers a program of innovative activities and events for all ages including guided tours, artists’ talks, and workshops as well as professional development opportunities for artists, teachers and students. When newly built in 2002, Mackay Regional Council received a significant donation from Australian printmaker, painter and publisher of limited-edition artists’ books, Tate Adams. The artists’ book collection has continued to grow and develop over successive years, assisted by the Libris Awards, a biennial national artists’ book competition. The gallery now houses the most focused collection of artists’ books in regional Australia.

AWARDS

In 2006, Artspace Mackay initiated The Libris Awards, a biennial artists’ book competition. The awards have grown to become one of Australia’s premier national artists’ book prizes, and has allowed Artspace Mackay to continue to develop awareness of the Council’s significant collection of artists’ books.

The next Libris Awards: The Australian Artists Book Prize will be held in 2022, and many online resources detailing previous awards are available on the Artspace Mackay website.